Norwich Football Fan Jailed And Banned

A Norwich man has been jailed and given a five-year football banning order after he was found with a knife outside Carrow Road.

Jason Thrower, 38, was restrained by an off-duty police officer after he was seen with a knife while arguing with another man outside the ground.

The incident happened on Saturday 28 December when City played Manchester United.

Police have welcomed the six-month sentence and warned those who attend matches and are intent on causing trouble will be dealt with robustly.

PC Andy King, football liaison officer, said: "This incident happened on busy match day and thankfully due to the intervention of an off duty officer no one was injured. The fact anyone consider should carrying a knife like this anywhere in public, let alone near a busy football ground, is not only illegal but beyond belief.

Thrower was completely irresponsible and the prison sentence sends a clear message to fans that such reckless behaviour will not be tolerated.

We will actively seek banning orders for those people brought before the courts which in turn act as a punishment and a deterrent."

Thrower, of Raleigh Court, off Rouen Road, Norwich appeared at the city's crown court on Friday (4 April) after pleading guilty to possessing a kitchen knife.

The incident unfolded shortly after 5pm when Thrower was involved in an argument with another man outside the ground. Witnesses reported seeing him with a knife and an off-duty police officer, who had attended the match, intervened and restrained Thrower. The officer grabbed the knife from the suspects waistband before throwing it on the ground, detaining him until uniformed officers arrived on scene. Thrower was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife in a public place and the knife was seized.

The sentence was also welcomed by Norwich City Football Club who, in addition to the order, imposed a lifetime ban on Thrower entering the ground.

The 5 year banning order prevents Thrower from attending any matches at Carrow Road and states he must not be present within the inner ring-road in Norwich four hours before a match and six hours afterwards, other than for private or business matters.